【新唐人2014年12月23日訊】雅芳公司（Avon）因向中共官員賄賂並送禮，遭美國證券交易委員會（SEC）罰款1.35億美元。雅芳高級副總裁在法庭聽證會上承認，向中共官員行賄共9,600筆，其中包括2008年為時任廣東省長黃華華支付赴香港旅費2.2萬美元。
美國政府指控稱，截至2008年末，不到五年的時間，雅芳公司(Avon Products Inc.)招待中共政府官員渡假吃喝、送手袋、給現金等花費了800萬美元。
依據美國的海外反貪污行為法，企業禁止為做生意向外國官員行賄或贈與有價品項。
美國司法部和美國證券交易委員會控告雅芳公司海外行賄案，在紐約南區聯邦地區法庭落錘，雅芳中國有限公司承認違反了美國的《反海外腐敗法》，日前被罰款1.35億美元。
獨立評論員張健：「我覺得美國在海外的反腐敗法律，是針對所有美國的企業和個人的，那麼也突顯了美國在民主法治上，他是一個旗幟性人物，通過雅芳這個事件，我們也能看到，美國對於美國本土的企業，如果一旦觸及了法律，他就會按照法律追究到底，按照司法程序這樣的審判。」
美國《華爾街日報》引述美國證券交易委員會及司法部的文件指出，雅芳高級副總裁Jeff Benjamin在法庭聽證會上承認，2004年到2008年間，雅芳中國高管曾經向中共官員頻頻送禮。
據披露，雅芳公司向中共官員行賄共9,600筆，涉及總額165萬美元。其中於2008年為時任廣東省長黃華華支付赴香港旅費2.2萬美元。據了解，這是雅芳首次披露中共現任高官的受賄情況。
時事評論員刑天行：「黃華華現在是全國人大華僑委員會副主任委員，他在人大的位置上，那這個信號，就是說未來這個反腐會燃燒到黃華華這個地方，肯定現在會引起一些人的關注。」
廣州市民陳先生：「因為他這麼高級別的官員，直接的證據就不可能讓我們知道的，但是他原來是做過廣州市的市委書記，而且還做過廣東省的省長，眾所週知，整個中國最有錢的省份就是廣東省，然後這些工業又比較發達，經濟比較發達，所以在這樣的省份，廣東省做到省長，他能夠拿到的，能夠貪污的，收到的錢財肯定不會少。」
雅芳公司在2006年成為第一家取得中國直銷許可的企業。而黃華華擔任廣東省省長是2003年到2011年。
時事評論員 刑天行：「雅芳受賄這件事情給捅出來，它這個目標涉及到雅芳背後的老虎將要被打，又釋放出來黃華華跟雅芳有關係，我想這也是一個強烈的暗示，也就是這個反腐的下一步很可能會觸及到黃華華，或者他周邊相關的人物。」
根據香港《蘋果日報》報導，近期中紀委在廣東打老虎，有關黃華華的負面消息不斷。去年年底以來，廣東數以十計高官落馬，包括省政協主席朱明國、廣州市委書記萬慶良等。
時事評論員刑天行：「朱明國和萬慶良是黃華華一手扶上位的，那麼他能夠一手扶上位，其實這個內涵就很深了。」
一名大陸法律工作者發表文章指出，中國的商業腐敗問題，不能指望著外國通過《反海外賄賂法》來解決。既然雅芳已經認罰的「通過行賄獲得中國直銷牌照」的事，那雅芳是向哪些中共官員行賄的？那些Gucci包包，現在誰在用？不能總是個謎？
文章還說，雖然「雅芳賄賂門」已經曝光6年，但我們至今也不知道雅芳到底賄賂了哪些中共官員，更不要說受賄者被追究刑事責任了。
採訪/易如 編輯/黃億美 後製/葛雷
Avon Bribes National Legislature Member Huang Huahua.
Avon agreed to pay $135 million to resolve related criminal
fines and civil charges from the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC).
Avon’s general counsel admitted at the Manhattan federal
court hearing that Avon made 9,600 payments between
2004 through to 2008, including $22,000 in 2008 to Huang
Huahua, then governor of Guangdong Province.
The U.S. alleges Avon spent $8 million on gifts for Chinese
government officials consisting of handbags, vacations,
meals and cash paid over four years ending in late
2008, reported the Wall Street Journal.
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act is federal law,
which prohibits companies from paying bribes to
foreign government officials and political figures
for the purposes of obtaining business.
The SEC and Justice Department allege Avon bribed Chinese
officials and violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Avon agreed to surrender $135 million
in exchange for a deferred prosecution.
Independent commentator Zhang Jian,"I believe the Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act targets U.S. businesses and individuals.
It highlights the democratic rule of law in the United States.
Avon’s case also demonstrated any violation of domestic
business is subject to law and judicial procedures."
Avon’s general counsel Jeff Benjamin admitted that
from 2004 through 2008, Avon China executives provided
gifts to Chinese government officials, reported WSJ.
According to reports, Avon made 9,600 payments totaling
$1.65 million for the officials.
For instance, Avon paid $22,000 for then Guangdong
governor Huang Huahua to have a trip to Hong Kong.
This is believed to be the first time Avon revealed that a
currently serving Chinese high official is involved in bribery.
Commentator Xing Tianxin,"Huang Huahua is the deputy
director of the Overseas Chinese Committee of the NPC.
His post at the NPC signals the anti-graft will soon target him,
and relevant individuals are certainly paying attention to it."
Guangzhou resident Mr. Chen, “We won’t know any direct
evidence about an official at his level.
But he was Guangzhou Municipal Committee secretary,
and also the Governor of Guangdong Province.
Guangdong Province is well known for its wealth,
the richest province in China.
It has a fairly well developed industry and economy.
As a governor of Guangdong, the amount he received and
corrupted is surely huge."
Avon became the first company to obtain direct selling
permission in China in 2006.
Huang Huahua was the governor of Guangdong
between 2003 and 2011.
Xing Tianxing, “The exposure of Avon bribery suggests
the tigers behind Avon China are to be hit.
The exposure of the relation between Huang Huahua and
Avon is also a strong indicator that Huang and his allies
will be the next target of anti-corruption."
According to Hong Kong Apple Daily report, many negative
news reports about Huang have been revealed since the
recent state regulator’s tiger hunt in Guangdong.
Dozens of Guangdong officials have been sacked from
late last year.
They include the provincial CPPCC Chairman Zhu Mingguo,
and municipal party secretary of Guangzhou Wan Qingliang.
Xing Tianxing, “Huang Huahua was the pushing hand
of Zhu Mingguo and Wan Qingliang.
His capability to promote them says a lot about the depth
of the case."
A Chinese lawyer stated in a commentary:
“The business corruption in China can’t rely on
the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Avon admitted the bribery to receive its direct selling license
in China. But, who are those officials who were bribed?
Who are using those Gucci bags? It can’t be just a mystery.”
It continued: “The Avon bribery has been exposed for six
years, but we still do not know which CCP officials Avon
has bribed,not to mention prosecuting those who are
criminally responsible.”